(LEAD) Yoon snubs 3rd summons for questioning in martial law investigation

▲ President Yoon Suk Yeol (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Yoon-martial law probe

(LEAD) Yoon snubs 3rd summons for questioning in martial law investigation

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 4 paras)

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday refused for a third time to appear for questioning in the investigation into his botched martial law imposition, raising the likelihood that the investigative body will file a court warrant for his arrest.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) handling the case said Yoon had not turned up at its office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at 10 a.m. as requested by the CIO.

This marks the third summons that Yoon has snubbed. Yoon ignored two previous summonses for questioning on Dec. 18 and Christmas Day.

With Yoon's repeated refusal, the CIO is widely expected to seek a court warrant to arrest the president. Three summonses are typically considered the maximum before an investigative agency seeks an arrest warrant against a suspect.

If the CIO seeks a court warrant to arrest Yoon, it would be an unprecedented move against a sitting president in South Korea.

On Dec. 7, four days after his failed martial law bid, Yoon said in a public address that he would not avoid legal and political responsibility for his botched imposition of martial law.

Still, it remains to be seen whether a court would issue a warrant to arrest Yoon.

CIO chief Oh Dong-woon has said the agency would send an official document to warn the presidential office if the presidential security service obstructs a proceeding to arrest Yoon.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved